Presentation by Matt Brett (Deakin University and NCSEHE) for La Trobe University's Student Success Summit 2019.

1. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Mr Matt Brett
Director, Academic Governance and Standards
Adjunct Fellow NCSEHE
November 2019
Where does student equity fit
within the Australian
idea of the university?

2. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
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Australian
University

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Australian
Equity University

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Student Equity
Australian
University

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Australian
University

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Australian
University

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Australian
University
StudentEquity

8. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Where does student equity fit within the
Australian idea of the university?
Share your thoughts, comments and questions
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SLIDO

9. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Where does equity fit in Australian university
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Australian
University
Historic Perspective Legislative Perspective
My
Perspective

10. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Where does equity fit in Australian university
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Australian
University
Historic Perspective Legislative Perspective
My
Perspective

11. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Where does equity fit in Australian university
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Australian
University
Historic Perspective Legislative Perspective
My
Perspective

12. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Central Conclusion
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Historic Perspective
Legislative Perspective
My Perspective
Equity is integrated
within the Australian
idea of the university
and has been since
system genesis
Our conceptions of
equity have changed
across time

13. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Historic Legislative Perspective ~25 Year Intervals 1850 to 1975
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Year Point of Higher Education
Establishment
Equity Relevance
1850 University of Sydney Act
ALL CLASSES
SECTARIAN FEARS
SCHOLARSHIPS
for the better advancement of religion and morality and the promotion of
useful knowledge to hold forth to all classes and denominations …
defraying the expense of such prizes scholarships and exhibitions as shall
be awarded

14. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Historic Legislative Perspective ~25 Year Intervals 1850 to 1975
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Year Point of Higher Education
Establishment
Equity Relevance
1870 The Tasmanian Council of
Education and Scholarship Act
GENDER
The provisions of the said Act…may be by Bye-law extended so that the
same shall include and apply to the youth of both sexes.
1879 New South Wales Additional
Appropriation Act
GENDERED SCHOLARSHIPS
Public Scholarships:
To provide for the education … in the University of five boys to be annually
selected from the Grammar Schools

15. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Historic Legislative Perspective ~25 Year Intervals 1850 to 1975
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Year Point of Higher Education
Establishment
Equity Relevance
1904 University Act
(University of Melbourne)
EQUITY ACCOUNTABILITY
ENTRY STANDARDS
Conditions of additional grant:
That the University will admit students to the courses for diplomas in
mining and agriculture without their having passed in the full number of
subjects necessary for matriculation;

16. Year Point of Higher Education
Establishment
Equity Relevance
1923 University Act 1923
(University of Melbourne)
STUDENT LOANS
There shall be established and kept by the council a fund to be called the
University Students Loan Fund
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Historic Legislative Perspective ~25 Year Intervals 1850 to 1975
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17. Year Point of Higher Education
Establishment
Equity Relevance
1949 Agricultural Education Act 1949
(Victoria)
SCHOLARSHIPS
EMPLOYABILITY
That the University shall in each year and from year to year provide free
places admitting to full courses for degrees or diplomas in agricultural
science… there may be engaged by special contract fifty persons holding
degrees of the University of Melbourne in agricultural science to be officers
of the departments to which this section applies
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Historic Legislative Perspective ~25 Year Intervals 1850 to 1975
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18. Year Point of Higher Education
Establishment
Equity Relevance
1973 Student Assistance Act
(Commonwealth)
POSTGRADUATE
Benefit under a Post-graduate Award … shall consist of-
(a) the payment, in relation to the cost of the course …
(b) the payment of a living allowance …
(c) the payment of an allowance…
(d) the payment of such other allowances …
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Historic Legislative Perspective ~25 Year Intervals 1850 to 1975
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19. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Contemporary Legislative perspective 2003 – 2019
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484 Pages
$11 Billion + HELP

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Contemporary Legislative perspective 2003 – 2019
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484 Pages
$11 Billion + HELP
How many equity mentions?

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Contemporary Legislative perspective 2003 – 2019
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n = 1
The objects of this Act are:
(a)to support a higher education system that:
(i) is characterised by quality, diversity
and equity of access;
Fairness, CGS, HELP, HEPPP, DSP, ISSP, DSA

22. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Contemporary Legislative perspective 2003 – 2019
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n = 1
The objects of this Act are:
(a)to support a higher education system that:
(i) is characterised by quality, diversity
and equity of access;
Fairness, CGS, HELP, HEPPP, DSP, ISSP, DSA
Equity is
integrated
within the
Australian idea
of the university
and its funding

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Matt Brett’s perspective: Performance and Accountability
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Matt Brett’s perspective: Performance and Accountability
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New
conceptions
of equity
emerging
Some
conceptions
universally
integrated

25. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
“Who is accountable to whom, for what purposes, for whose benefit,
by which means, and with what consequences?” Burke (2015)
Performance and Accountability Perspective
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Student Success Perspective
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Who are you counting? What are you counting?
Why are you counting? What are the consequences?
How does equity fits within student success at La Trobe?

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A dynamic conception
of equity has been
part of the Australian
idea of universities
since 1850
Matt Brett
m.brett@deakin.edu.au Questions/Comments
@MattBrettLTU
How does a dynamic
conception of equity
inform student
success strategies at
La Trobe?